This dataset provides values for GDP PER CAPITA reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Seychelles had the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in Africa as of 2024. The value amounted to 21,630 U.S. dollars. Mauritius followed with around 12,330 U.S. dollars, whereas Gabon registered 8,840 U.S. dollars. GDP per capita is calculated by dividing a country’s GDP by its population, meaning that some of the largest economies are not ranked within the leading ten. Impact of COVID-19 on North Africa’s GDP When looking at the GDP growth rate in Africa in 2024, Libya had the largest estimated growth in Northern Africa, a value of 7.8 percent compared to the previous year. Niger and Senegal were at the top of the list with rates of 10.4 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on the economy was severe. The growth of the North African real GDP was estimated at minus 1.1 percent in 2020. However, estimations for 2022 looked much brighter, as it was set that the region would see a GDP growth of six percent, compared to four percent in 2021.
Contribution of Tourism Various countries in Africa are dependent on tourism, contributing to the economy. In 2023, travel and tourism were estimated to contribute 182.6 billion U.S. dollars, a clear increase from 96.5 in 2020 following COVID-19. As of 2024, South Africa, Mauritius, and Egypt led tourism in the continent according to the Travel & Tourism Development Index.

The Seychelles' GDP per capita amounted to 22,000 U.S. dollars in 2025, the highest in East Africa. Mauritius ranked second, with a GDP per capita worth around 13,000 U.S. dollars. Burundi, on the other hand, had the lowest average income per person, at about 160 U.S. dollars.

The average for 2023 based on 46 countries was 2302.22 U.S. dollars. The highest value was in the Seychelles: 16715.27 U.S. dollars and the lowest value was in Burundi: 262.17 U.S. dollars. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2022, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in Africa reached 2,150.6 U.S. dollars, the highest value since 2015. In 2014, the value per capita was higher, at 2,316 U.S. dollars. The GDP per capita on the continent was set to follow an upward trend in the coming years to reach nearly 2,700 U.S. dollars by 2026.

The GDP per capita in Libya was estimated at around 7,200 U.S. dollars in 2022. Libya had the highest GDP per capita in North Africa in that year. Algeria followed, with a GDP per capita of approximately 4,300 U.S. dollars. In total, Egypt was the largest economy in the region.

Graph and download economic data for Constant GDP per capita: All Income Levels for Sub-Saharan Africa (NYGDPPCAPKDSSF) from 1960 to 2023 about Sub-Saharan Africa, per capita, income, and GDP.

South Africa's GDP was estimated at just over 403 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, the highest in Africa. Egypt followed, with a GDP worth around 380 billion U.S. dollars, and ranked as the second-highest on the continent. Algeria ranked third, with about 260 billion U.S. dollars. These African economies are among some of the fastest-growing economies worldwide. Dependency on oil For some African countries, the oil industry represents an enormous source of income. In Nigeria, oil generates over five percent of the country’s GDP in the third quarter of 2023. However, economies such as the Libyan, Algerian, or Angolan are even much more dependent on the oil sector. In Libya, for instance, oil rents account for over 40 percent of the GDP. Indeed, Libya is one of the economies most dependent on oil worldwide. Similarly, oil represents for some of Africa’s largest economies a substantial source of export value. The giants do not make the ranking Most of Africa’s largest economies do not appear in the leading ten African countries for GDP per capita. The GDP per capita is calculated by dividing a country’s GDP by its population. Therefore, a populated country with a low total GDP will have a low GDP per capita, while a small rich nation has a high GDP per capita. For instance, South Africa has Africa’s highest GDP, but also counts the sixth-largest population, so wealth has to be divided into its big population. The GDP per capita also indicates how a country’s wealth reaches each of its citizens. In Africa, Seychelles has the greatest GDP per capita.

This dataset provides values for GDP reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Botswana's GDP per capita amounted to eight thousand U.S. dollars in 2025, the highest in Southern Africa. South Africa ranked second, with a GDP per capita worth around 6.5 thousand U.S. dollars. Mozambique, on the other hand, had the lowest average product per person, of about 680 U.S. dollars.

The statistic shows gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2019 to 2023, with projections up until 2029. GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year. It is considered to be a very important indicator of the economic strength of a country and a positive change is an indicator of economic growth. In 2023, aggregated GDP per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to around 5,178.62 U.S. dollars.

Key information about South Africa Real GDP Growth

• The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa expanded 1.3 % YoY in Dec 2022, following a growth of 4.0 % in the previous quarter.
• Real GDP Growth YoY data in South Africa is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1961 to Dec 2022, with an average rate of 3.0 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 19.4 % in Jun 2021 and a record low of -17.0 % in Jun 2020.

• In the latest reports, Nominal GDP of South Africa reached 98.8 USD bn in Sep 2022.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 4.7 % in Sep 2022.
• GDP Per Capita in South Africa reached 6,966.1 USD in Dec 2021.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 15.6 % in Sep 2022.
• For Nominal GDP contributions, Investment accounted for 14.8 % in Dec 2022.
• Public Consumption accounted for 19.9 % in Dec 2022.
• Private Consumption accounted for 66.6 % in Dec 2022.

African Country data can be downloaded from the IMF for: Current account balance,- Employment,- General government gross debt,- General government net debt,- General government net lending/borrowing,- General government primary net lending/borrowing,- General government revenue,- General government structural balance,- General government total expenditure,- Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) share of world total,- Gross domestic product corresponding to fiscal year, current prices,- Gross domestic product per capita, constant prices,- Gross domestic product per capita, current prices,- Gross domestic product, constant prices,- Gross domestic product, current prices,- Gross domestic product, deflator,- Gross national savings,- Implied PPP conversion rate,- Inflation, average consumer prices,- Inflation, end of period consumer prices,- Output gap in percent of potential GDP,- Population,- Six-month London interbank offered rate (LIBOR),- Total investment,- Unemployment rate,- Volume of exports of goods,- Volume of exports of goods and services,- Volume of Imports of goods,- Volume of imports of goods and services,- IMF Copyright and Usage here https://www.imf.org/external/terms.htm

Seychelles recorded the highest Gross National Income (GNI) per capita in Africa as of 2023, at 16,940 U.S. dollars. The African island was, therefore, the only high-income country on the continent, according to the source's classification. Mauritius, Gabon, Botswana, Libya, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, and Namibia were defined as upper-middle-income economies, those with a GNI per capita between 4,516 U.S. dollars and 14,005 U.S. dollars. On the opposite, 20 African countries recorded a GNI per capita below 1,145 U.S. dollars, being thus classified as low-income economies. Among them, Burundi presented the lowest income per capita, some 230 U.S. dollars. Poverty and population growth in Africa Despite a few countries being in the high income and upper-middle countries classification, Africa had a significant number of people living under extreme poverty. However, this number is expected to decline gradually in the upcoming years, with experts forecasting that this number will decrease to almost 400 million individuals by 2030 from nearly 430 million in 2023, despite the continent currently having the highest population growth rate globally. African economic growth and prosperity In recent years, Africa showed significant growth in various industries, such as natural gas production, clean energy generation, and services exports. Furthermore, it is forecast that the GDP growth rate would reach 4.5 percent by 2027, keeping the overall positive trend of economic growth in the continent.

Central African Republic CF: GDP: Growth: GNI per Capita data was reported at -0.522 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.291 % for 2021. Central African Republic CF: GDP: Growth: GNI per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 2.477 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2022, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.243 % in 2010 and a record low of -36.595 % in 2013. Central African Republic CF: GDP: Growth: GNI per Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Gross Domestic Product: Annual Growth Rate. Annual percentage growth rate of GNI per capita based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2010 U.S. dollars. GNI per capita is gross national income divided by midyear population. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.;World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.;Weighted average;

Historical chart and dataset showing South Africa GDP per capita by year from 1960 to 2023.

19 of the 20 countries with the lowest estimated GDP per capita in the world in 2024 are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. South Sudan is believed to have a GDP per capita of just 351.02 U.S. dollars - for reference, Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita in the world, at almost 130,000 U.S. dollars, which is around 400 times larger than that of Burundi (U.S. GDP per capita is over 250 times higher than Burundi's). Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa Many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa have been among the most impoverished in the world for over a century, due to lacking nutritional and sanitation infrastructures, persistent conflict, and political instability. These issues are also being exacerbated by climate change, where African nations are some of the most vulnerable in the world, as well as the population boom that will place over the 21st century. Of course, the entire population of Sub-Saharan Africa does not live in poverty, and countries in the southern part of the continent, as well as oil-producing states around the Gulf of Guinea, do have some pockets of significant wealth (especially in urban areas). However, while GDP per capita may be higher in these countries, wealth distribution is often very skewed, and GDP per capita figures are not representative of average living standards across the population. Outside of Africa Yemen is the only country outside of Africa to feature on the list, due to decades of civil war and instability. Yemen lags very far behind some of its neighboring Arab states, some of whom rank among the richest in the world due to their much larger energy sectors. Additionally, the IMF does not make estimates for Afghanistan, which would also likely feature on this list.

As of 2023, the GDP of Africa was estimated at roughly 3.1 trillion U.S. dollars. This was the highest value since 2010 when the continent's GDP amounted to approximately 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars. The GDP value in Africa generally followed an upward trend in recent years and was estimated to exceed 4.2 trillion U.S. dollars by 2027.

Leading the charge: the three leading African economies

Among the African countries, in 2021, Nigeria had the highest GDP with approximately 442 billion U.S. dollars. South Africa and Egypt followed. These three countries have the largest economies for various reasons. The most notable factors are their population size, natural resources, and level of economic development. Furthermore, Africa was projected to have a real GDP growth rate of 3.9 percent in 2023. Libya was the economy experiencing the highest growth rate in that year.

The Sub-Saharan African economy on the rise

A global comparison showed that Sub-Saharan Africa had the smallest GDP among all world regions in 2021, amounting to 1.87 trillion U.S. dollars. A closer look revealed that Sub-Saharan Africa had a GDP per capita of 1,626.3 U.S. dollars in 2021, again the lowest worldwide. However, the region's economy was forecast to experience continued growth in the following years, with the real GDP increasing by 3.7 percent in 2023.

Key information about South Africa GDP Per Capita

• South Africa Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita reached 6,667.325 USD in Dec 2022, compared with 6,984.435 USD in Dec 2021.
• South Africa GDP Per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1957 to Dec 2022, with an average number of 3,145.677 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 8,809.909 USD in Dec 2011 and a record low of 476.000 in Dec 1957.
• CEIC converts annual GDP per Capita into USD. South African Reserve Bank provides GDP per Capita in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

• In the latest reports, South Africa GDP expanded 0.176 % YoY in Mar 2023.
• South Africa Nominal GDP reached 95.914 USD bn in Mar 2023.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 5.589 % in Mar 2023.
• Gross Savings Rate of South Africa was measured at 14.500 % in Mar 2023.

AFR Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for Sub-Saharan Africa is prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall. Data are consistent with the projections underlying the WEO. REO aggregate data may differ from WEO aggregates due to differences in group membership. Composite data for country groups are weighted averages of data for individual countries. Arithmetic weighted averages are used for all concepts except for inflation and broad money, for which geometric averages are used. PPP GDP weights from the WEO database are used for the aggregation of real GDP growth, real non-oil GDP growth, real per capita GDP growth, investment, national savings, broad money, claims on the nonfinancial private sector, and real and nominal effective exchange rates. Aggregates for other concepts are weighted by GDP in U.S. dollars at market exchange rates.